BOWLS: Northants hold their nerve to progress in Liberty Trophy

Northants claimed a thrilling 113-108 win over Warwickshire in the Liberty Trophy.

Played at at Welford-on-Avon BC, Northants had four winning rinks, but those four only totalled a 12-shots advantage, but fortunately the two losing rinks did so by only a total of seven shots.

The highest scoring for the County was the rink skipped by Paul Broderick which posted an eight-shots victory.

Overall the County started the better and after five ends had built a 12 shots lead, but as the match progressed that lead was whittled away into low single figures, with just a three shots lead after 10 ends.

With a number of ‘killed ends’ on several of the rinks, it was clear that the match was going to take all of the allocation of four hours, and the last few ends played by the two rinks in particular that were behind the rest in their progress, were very tense indeed.

With one end each left to be played by the rinks skipped by Darren Childs and Callum Height, the County had a lead of seven shots overall.

The County pair could not afford to drop seven shots between them, and as they played that last end, each rink built up a good head to prevent that calamity.

Warwickshire ‘killed’ one of the ends against Height, and no less than three of those against Childs, until they had got themselves into a position to collect the multiple shots they needed.

On Childs’ rink, which was the first of the two to finish, Warwickshire were holding several shots until Child with a very well drawn delivery, bowled his last bowl to cut the count to just one.

On Height’s rink when playing his last bowl, he was faced with a very big count against, but he drew the second shot to ensure victory.

Men’s Under-25 singles area six final (played in sets): David Walker, Kimngsthorpe BC beat Oliver Fowler, Rugby Thornfield IBC 2-0 (12-7 & 11-3). The win puts David through to the National Finals on Saturday, January 27, 2018

Men’s Champion of champions singles area six final: Andy Smith, Northampton & District IBA beat Gerry Magan, City of Coventry IBC 21-11. The win puts Andy in the National Finals to be held at Warners Hayling Island IBC, on Friday, February 2, 2018. He will play against England international Jamie Chestney.